OIL LIGHT ON - Seriously

[Guest]

Hello everybody

I would like to ask for ur help

I bought a GS1100GK (1982) a few weeks ago

and since 2 weeks ago, when start the bike, there is a lot of white smoke for like 1 minute, most from the left side escape...

and since 3 days ago, when the engine is warm, the oil light comes on..., I check the oil level is ok, is already check disconnecting the wire from oil pressure unit and the light comes off (touching a part of the engine, the light comes on again)...

I am really worry, I really like the bike, and the mechanic is really bad...

I need ur help guys, pls

[rustybronco]

Is there fuel in the oil?

Have you tried changing the oil first?

If the idle is low the light may come on. Try raising the idle to 1100 RPM AFTER you know there is no issue with the oil.

[Arthur]

tks for reply

the oil and the filter have less than one month ive changed...

but how do I know if there is gas in oil?

really the light comes on when bike is warm, and I tried to raised it but still the same...

I forgot to inform this bike was stored for the 8 past years...

but the carbs are cleaned...

I really don't know what to do

[Triam]

open up where you pour in the oil. if it smells like gas then you have gas in your oil.

[rustybronco]

the oil and the filter have less than one month ive changed...

How long after the oil was changed did the light start coming on?

Does your bike have an external oil cooler installed?

[Arthur]

I check the oil and dont smell for nothing to gas

the light start to come on like 3 weeks after iol and filter changed

I just make a ride to check the idle to be sure but still the same

but i just realize the light is activating first when i touch the clutch lever and becoming to put on the lught more and more, and after warm up nothing to do with the clutch, i dont know if its relevant but i prefer to inform

the thing is the clutch is not connected to the electrical sistem, so its not possible to be an eletrical prpblem or not?

[Nessism]

The bike has a clutch interlock switch.

[ChicagoBob]

The oil light can come on due to electrical issues. The switch is designed to interrupt the circuit when oil pressure is low, so if the connection is interrupted for any reason (like a loose wire or dirty connection), the oil light will come on.

I had this issue on my 550, and found that the wire had frayed and broken where it plugged into the switch.

Roller-bearing engines require very little oil pressure, but you should look into the issue just the same.

[rustybronco]

Does the oil light ever come on while you're riding, or only warm at an idle.

Do you know for certain that it has the correct oil in it? (10w40, 15w40, etc.)

AGAIN, does your bike have an external oil cooler??

[Nessism]

The switch is designed to interrupt the circuit when oil pressure is low, so if the connection is interrupted for any reason (like a loose wire or dirty connection), the oil light will come on.

Actually, the circuit works just the opposite. The switch provides a continuity path to ground, so the light illuminates when there is no oil pressure. With the engine running oil pressure pushes on the switch and disrupts the ground path, so the light goes out.

[mustangflyr]

Hook up a pressure gauge to it see what it is really doing, mine holds 3psi at 3k rpm the book calls for 1.42psi to 7.11psi at 3k rpm.

[Arthur]

ok tks everybody,

sorry I forgot I don't have a cooler...

I don't think this is an electrical problem, because I just send the bike to check the electrical system... and the clutch lever is not connected...

the light gets on more and more with the engine warming...

really strange, and the fact I have white smoke at starting the engine... from where could it be???

tks again guys

[Arthur]

the pressure gauge are universal?

[Nessism]

The oil pressure switch is just a metal plunger w/spring. Repeating myself here but the plunger sits down over the oil feed port in the engine block, thus completing the ground path and causing the light to illuminate. When oil is burbling through the port it pushes the plunger up and out of the way, thus disrupting the ground path and the light goes out. The system is extremely reliable and almost foolproof. If oil is flowing the plunger will be forced out of the way and the light will go out. You might want to remove the oil distribution cavity plate w/ the switch so you can physically verify the plunger is functioning as designed and not binding. It's a very simple device and easy to verify if it's working properly. Assuming it is, then you may have an issue with the oil pump. The pump itself is almost foolproof, but if the clutch hub has come loose the drive gears may not be engaged properly. Best to check everything before it's too late.

Regarding the oil smoke on start up, that sounds like bad valve stem seals. Not related to the oil pressure issue at hand.

[Arthur]

Tks Nessim

I dont understand very well the thing about the clutch u wrote...

can u explain me better pls

and how the clutch can influence the oil pressure, or pomp?

tks